In the News - October 2008
Firewood season could mean a time to spread the emerald ash borer
LITTLE ROCK - Cooler temperatures and fireplaces go hand-in-hand, but
Arkansans should take into account a nasty insect pest before moving firewood
this fall, says Dr. Tamara Walkingstick, an extension forester with the
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
"Firewood is probably the No. 1 reason for the spread of the emerald ash
borer," she said. "This insect is very destructive - an infestation is a death
sentence for ash trees, whether or not they are healthy when the insects are
introduced."
Tree death usually occurs within two to four years, Walkingstick said.
When buying firewood for use at home or at the campground, be sure to ask the
vendor if it is ash and where the firewood originated. Much of what is burned in
Arkansas is oak or hickory.
"Homeowners and campers should not buy ash firewood from quarantined areas in
Missouri or other areas under quarantine," she said.
"Folks can certainly use local ash firewood," Walkingstick said. "If they buy
it locally they also need to burn it all while at the campsite or leave it
there. Don’t move it home or to the next location."
The U.S. Forest Service said the emerald ash borer is responsible for more
than 20 million dead or dying trees and millions of dollars in damage to ash
trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The Arkansas Forestry Commission, Arkansas State Plant Board and other
agencies have placed traps around the state to obtain information on their
spread and lifecycle.
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and other agencies are conducting research, as well as working to
educate the public about the threat posed by the emerald ash borer.
Entomologists say the borer, a native of Asia, was first spotted in Michigan
in 2002 and probably arrived years earlier in crates, pallets or other shipping
materials. The borer is now found in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Wisconsin and Missouri.
The adult form, a beetle, has a dark metallic green back and bright, emerald
green underside. It is bullet-shaped and about a half-inch long. The larvae are
white and flat with bell-shaped segments and can grow to about 1.25 inches.
For more information about the emerald ash borer, see
http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-7066.pdf.
Additionally, a video from
Dontmovefirewood.org, provides a humorous message.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rTOkCXHs6o.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
October 3, 2008
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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